5 Days in Australia: 4 Inspiring Itineraries

Five days in Australia can be filled with trips to its remarkable cities. Start in Sydney and hop through the others. Often overlooked, Australia’s ‘Bush Capital’ Canberra has some unexpected delights. The National Gallery of Australia is home to a remarkable collection of Aboriginal art, the Australian War Memorial is a magnet for history buffs and the National Arboretum has over 20 kilometers (12 miles) of walking trails. Finish your day with a stop at Capital Brewing Company and lounge in their expansive beer garden. Canberra can easily be paired with a trip to Melbourne. You could take the route through the Murray River Basin, a region rich in history. Beechworth is a well-preserved gold rush town and Glenrowan is home to the Ned Kelly Museum and Homestead. If it’s nature you crave, take the slightly longer route through Kosciuszko National Park, home to Australia’s highest peak. Melbourne is a feast for your senses. Wander the shops of the laneways and arcades, relax in the Royal Botanic Gardens, kayak or sail down the Yarra River. See more 5-day trips in Australia.

If you are looking for nature and wildlife, Australia will not disappoint, and five days is enough time. Within a couple hours of Darwin you’ll find three of Australia’s finest (and wildest) national parks. Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park and famous for its population of saltwater crocodiles. The best and safest way to see them is on a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong. Kakadu is also home to some of the best preserved Aboriginal rock art in Australia. The Ubirr site is the most remarkable—some of the artwork is believed to be upwards of 20,000 years old. Litchfield National Park is home to towering termite mounds, some stretching over four meters (13 feet) high. Waterfalls and crystal clear pools are its defining feature and swimming is permitted at certain times of year. At Nitmiluk National Park, canoe past tumbling waterfalls, ancient rock art and sheer cliffs. For a more relaxing experience take a sunset cruise or even a scenic flight. See all national park tours of Australia.

Five days is enough to see plenty of what Australia’s island state, Tasmania has on offer. Launceston is Tasmania’s most central gateway city, and offers easy access to the Tamar Valley (a must for wine aficionados) and Cradle Mountain is just two hours west (avid hikers will want to spend a couple of days here). Heading two hours east from Launceston you could base yourself in Bicheno for a few nights where you can see the tiny Fairy Penguins and visit Freycinet National Park—a stunning peninsula jutting into the Tasman Sea. Visitors to Freycinet flock to insta-worthy Wineglass Bay. Enjoy the view from the top or trek to the bottom and relax on the powder white sand. Carrying on to Hobart, you’ll have time to squeeze in a few of the sights. If you’re lucky enough to be in Hobart on a Saturday, the Salamanca Market is the place to pick up any souvenirs from your trip. The historic convict settlement of Port Arthur is just over an hour from the city. The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), described by its founder and benefactor as a ‘subversive adult Disneyland’ is well worth the visit. 

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Kangaroo Island is a microcosm of the best of Australia packed into one tiny, beautiful island. The access to wildlife is unparalleled—you can walk among the seal lion colony at Seal Bay (be on the lookout for adorable pups) and swim with wild bottlenose dolphins. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and tiny echidnas are all found here too. One of the best ways to maximize your chances of seeing wildlife is to hike the 66 kilometers (41 miles) Wilderness Trail which takes you through pristine bushland and the wild rugged coast of the Southern Ocean. There’s also the Little Sahara Sand Dunes for adrenaline junkies and don’t miss the aptly named, Remarkable Rocks. If luxury is more your speed, there are plenty of options to experience Kangaroo Island in style. You may be on a tiny island, but there is plenty of fine food and drink to be had—everything from local oysters and lavender honey to craft beers. See all hiking tours in Australia.

Even with limited days at hand, you can see the best of Australia, as shown in the itineraries above. If you want to explore a few more duration varieties, check out our guide on how many days to spend in Australia. Once you’ve found the ideal duration for yourself, browse through our collection of Australia holiday packages for a ready-to-go itinerary. For a more personalized vacation, speak to one of our travel advisors for a customized holiday in Australia.

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